Company offers veterans a new start

ADRIAN — Signal 88 Security, a nationally franchised security personnel company, is sponsoring a contest to give military veterans a chance to win start-up money to open a business.

Signal 88 Security has a franchise in Adrian.

The contest, called Operation American Dream: From Battlefield to Boss, asks veterans to submit a 500-word essay on why they want to open a business, according to a news release from Albers Communications Group in Omaha, the firm handling public relations for the contest.

The first deadline for submitting an essay is Jan. 15. Subsequent deadlines for essay submission will the the 15th of each month, with the final deadline being May 15.

Submissions will be accepted online at www.signal88.com/OperationAmericanDream.

The contest is open to military members in good standing and veterans, according to the contest website.

Signal 88 Security representatives will select three finalists each month and the public will be allowed to vote on the monthly winner.

Monthly winners will receive $500 and become eligible to win the grand prize, which will be $5,000 in start-up money for any business, or $10,000 if the recipient chooses to open a Signal 88 Security franchise.

Participants may submit a 60- to 90-second video to support their essay, said Melissa Hoeman of Albers Communications.

According to the news release, a May 2011 study by the Small Business Association Office of Advocacy found that veterans are at least 45 percent more likely to try entrepreneurship than people with no active-duty military experience.

Signal 88 Security was among the top 10 percent of the nation’s franchises in 2012 doing the most to recruit military veterans, according to a statement by Signal 88 Security CEO and co-founder Reed Nyffeler.

Jim Whiteman of Adrian, one of three owners of the Adrian Signal 88 Security franchise, said the franchise has seven to eight full-time employees but can employ as many as 200 people for security at NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway.

Whiteman called the contest a good thing and said his company has found veterans to be good employees.